Shelf system

ABSTRACT

The shelf system of the present invention comprises a tray or wire shelf or rack having double running surfaces on two opposing sides, which in use provide support for said shelf on the runners provided within an oven cavity. The shelf may be placed within an oven and slid over the runners formed on opposite side walls of the surface liner of the oven. Either the top running surface or bottom running surface of the shelf may be supported by a runner on either side of the oven. Therefore the shelf may be placed in the oven where the runner is between the double running surfaces, or the double running surfaces may allow for the placement of the shelf between two runners. Therefore the number of shelf positions within the oven cavity may be up to double that provided in conventional ovens, allowing for a finer adjustment of positioning of the shelf within an oven.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to shelves or racks and inparticular but not solely to shelves or racks for supporting trays andpans within cooking ovens.

[0003] 2. Summary of the Prior Art

[0004] Ovens are usually provided with an oven cavity liner that hasrunners formed within the side walls which support racks at differentheights. Only a limited number of runners are formed within the ovencavity liner therefore limiting the position of racks within the ovenchamber. Typically around five rack positions are provided for.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an oven orother enclosure with a rack or shelf that can be supported at a greaternumber of positions without increasing the number of runners.

[0006] Accordingly in a first aspect the invention consists in a shelfor rack for an enclosure which includes at least one pair of supportmeans on opposite side walls of said enclosure for supporting said shelfor rack, said shelf or rack having:

[0007] a pair of upper and lower engagement members located on each oftwo opposing sides of said shelf or rack, where each engagement memberis capable, in use, of engaging with said enclosure support means tosupport said shelf or rack,

[0008] such that when said upper engagement means are engaged with apair of support means said shelf or rack is supported at a lower heightin said enclosure than when said lower engagement means are engaged withthe same pair of support means.

[0009] In a second aspect the invention consists in a shelf or rack foran oven which includes at least one pair of support means on oppositeside walls of said oven for supporting said shelf or rack, said shelf orrack having:

[0010] a pair of upper and lower engagement members located on each oftwo opposing sides of said shelf or rack, where each engagement memberis capable, in use, of engaging with said oven support means to supportsaid shelf or rack,

[0011] such that when said upper engagement means are engaged with apair of support means said shelf or rack is supported at a lower heightin said oven than when said lower engagement means are engaged with thesame pair of support means.

[0012] In a third aspect the invention consists an oven having a rack orshelf, said oven including at least one pair of support means onopposite side walls of said oven for supporting said shelf or rack, saidshelf or rack having:

[0013] a pair of upper and lower engagement members located on each oftwo opposing sides of said shelf or rack, where each engagement memberis capable, in use, of engaging with said oven support means to supportsaid shelf or rack,

[0014] such that when said upper engagement means are engaged with apair of support means said shelf or rack is supported at a lower heightin said enclosure than when said lower engagement means are engaged withthe same pair of support means.

[0015] To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thedisclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and arenot intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an oven side wall andshelves of the present invention,

[0017]FIG. 2 is a side elevation in partial cross-section of an internalside wall of an oven showing the interaction between the runners andshelves, and

[0018]FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation in partial cross-section of anoven side wall and shelves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The shelf system of the present invention comprises a tray orwire shelf or rack having double running surfaces on two opposing sides,which in use provide support for the shelf on the runners providedwithin an oven cavity. The shelf may be placed within an oven and slidover the runners formed on opposite side walls of the surface liner ofthe oven. The top most surface of the shelf can be supported by a runneron either side of the oven, or alternatively, the bottom most runningsurface can be supported by a runner on either side of the oven.Therefore the shelf may be placed in the oven where the runner isbetween the double running surfaces, or the double running surfaces mayallow for the placement of the shelf between two runners. Therefore thenumber of shelf positions within the oven cavity may be up to doublethat provided in conventional ovens. Furthermore, the shelf system ofthe present invention also provides a finer adjustment for positioningthe shelf within an oven.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, an oven liner 1 is provided within thecavity of an oven. This liner is usually a steel cavity, but may be madefrom other materials. A series of support means 2, are located on thevertical sides of the oven liner 1. The support means are protrudingrunners 2 in the preferred form of the present invention, but may besolid elongate members in lesser preferred forms. The pairs of runners 2line up horizontally across the oven cavity liner 1 to provide a levelsurface for a shelf or rack 3. The shelf or rack 3 has a main body 3 aand upper 4 and a lower 5 engagement members that in the preferred formof the present invention are elongate running surfaces. The spacingbetween of the runners 2 and the spacing between the upper 4 and lower 5running surfaces must be of a corresponding space, or at least thespacing between each runner must be of a similar width to (but notnecessarily equal to) the width of the double running surface of theshelf. Alternatively, in less preferred forms of the present invention,supports may be provided within an enclosure where a shelf or rack withdouble running surfaces can, in use, be supported within the enclosure.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the shelf of the present inventionmay be placed in a number of positions within an oven. When the shelf 3is placed in a first location within the oven, the upper running surface4 of the shelf 3, sits on the upper level 6 of the runner 2. As shown inFIG. 2 the topmost shelf is placed in such a position. In this position,to prevent tilting of the shelf when withdrawn from the enclosure therunning surfaces 5, 6 have restricting means 4, 7 at their ends nearestthe back of the enclosure. The restricting means are themselves upwardtilts 4, 7 of the running surfaces 5, 6. In the position as shown inFIG. 2, when the upper shelf is withdrawn from the enclosure, the upwardtilt 7 of the lower running surface 5 catches on the node 8 in therunner 2. When the shelf 3 has reached its full extension, node 8 andtilt 7 meet and prevent the shelf 3 from being fully removed from theoven and the shelf 3 is restricted from tilting up or down, particularlyat times where there is weight placed on the shelf.

[0022] When the shelf is in use in a second position, namely between afirst runner 9 and a second runner 10, the lower running surface 5 sitson the upper level 11 of the lower 10 of the two runners. In thisposition, the upward slope 12 of the upper running surface 4 catches onthe node 13 in the upper runner 9 when the shelf 3 has reached its fullextension, thus preventing the shelf from being fully removed from theoven.

[0023] The front of each runner angles back from the node therebyreducing the width of the runner. The angle of the runner in front ofthe node corresponds to the angle of the upward slope on both runningsurfaces of the shelf, such that the shelf can be inserted or removedfrom the oven cavity by lifting the front of the shelf upwards.

[0024] The shelf 3 may be a wire rack configuration or be of a trayconfiguration. In either of these forms the upper running surface isconnected to the lower running surface by way of an angular connector14. This connector 14 also connects the double running surface to themain body 3 a of the shelf. Preferably the angular connector is made ofwire, but may be made of a sheet type or other appropriate material.

[0025] The advantages of this system are that the shelf of the presentinvention provides for finer shelf adjustment to allow for thepositioning of food at an optimum cooking height within the oven cavity.In the past achieving optimal cooking heights has been difficult whenusing conventional oven cavities with formed runners. Furthermore, inthe preferred form, the rack system of the present invention has twosafety features. Firstly, the system has a stopping mechanism to preventthe shelf from being fully withdrawn, and secondly it has an anti-tiltmechanism to prevent the shelf from tipping. To achieve these safetyfeatures there is a requirement that the spacing of the runner forms andthe spacing of the running surfaces on the shelf correspond and theshelf is provided with an upward tilt in the rear section of the shelf.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shelf or rack for an enclosure which includesat least one pair of support means on opposite side walls of saidenclosure for supporting said shelf or rack, said shelf or rack having:a pair of upper and lower engagement members located on each of twoopposing sides of said shelf or rack, where each engagement member iscapable, in use, of engaging with said support means to support saidshelf or rack, such that when said upper engagement members are engagedwith a pair of support means said shelf or rack is supported at a lowerheight in said enclosure than when said lower engagement members areengaged with the same pair of support means.
 2. A shelf or rack for anenclose according to claim 1 wherein said engagement members are twoparallel elongate members attached to opposing sides of said shelf orrack.
 3. A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to either of claims1 or 2 wherein said shelf or rack is formed from wire and saidengagement members are integrally formed therewith.
 4. A shelf or rackfor an enclosure according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said shelfor rack and said engagement members are formed of a sheet type material.5. A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to4 wherein there is a plurality of support means and the spacing betweeneach of said pair of support means is equal to or greater than thedistance between said upper and lower engagement members.
 6. A shelf orrack for an enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein thenumber of positions tat said shelf or rack are placeable within saidenclosure is up to but not exceeding twice the number of support meansprovided within said enclosure.
 7. A shelf or rack for an enclosureaccording to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said support means aresolid elongate supports.
 8. A shelf or rack for an enclosure accordingto any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said support means are runners.
 9. Ashelf or rack for an enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 8wherein said engagement members are provided with restricting means torestrict tilting and removal of said shelf or rack when in use.
 10. Ashelf or rack for an enclosure according to claim 9 wherein saidrestricting means is an upward tilt provided at the ends, nearest theback of said enclosure, of said upper and lower engagement members. 11.A shelf or rack for an oven which includes at least one pair of supportmeans on opposite side walls of said oven for supporting said shelf orrack, said shelf or rack having: a pair of upper and lower engagementmembers located on each of two opposing sides of said shelf or rack,where each engagement member is capable, in use, of engaging with saidsupport means to support said shelf or rack, such that when said upperengagement members are engaged with a pair of support means said shelfor rack is supported at a lower height in said oven than when said lowerengagement members are engaged with the same pair of support means. 12.A shelf or rack for an oven according to claim 11 wherein said upper andlower engagement members are two parallel elongate members attached toopposing sides of said shelf or rack.
 13. A shelf or rack for an ovenaccording to either of claims 11 or 12 wherein said shelf or rack isformed from wire and said engagement members are integrally formedtherewith.
 14. A shelf or rack for an oven according to either of claims11 or 12 wherein said shelf or rack and said engagement members areformed of a sheet type material.
 15. A shelf or rack for an ovenaccording to any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein there are a plurality ofsupport means and the spacing between each of said pair of support meansis equal to or greater than the distance between said upper and lowerengagement members.
 16. A shelf or rack for an oven according to any oneof claims 11 to 15 wherein the number of positions that said shelf orrack are placeable within said enclosure is up to but not exceedingtwice the number of support means provided within said oven.
 17. A shelfor rack for an oven according to any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein saidsupport means are solid elongate supports.
 18. A shelf or rack for anoven according to any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein said support meansare runners.
 19. A shelf or rack for an oven according to any one ofclaims 11 to 18 wherein said engagement members are provided withrestricting means to restrict tilting and removal of said shelf or rackwhen in use.
 20. A shelf or rack for an oven according to claim 19wherein said restricting means is an upward tilt provided at the ends,nearest the back of said enclosure, of said upper and lower engagementmembers.
 21. An oven having a rack or shelf, said oven including atleast one pair of support means on opposite side walls of said oven forsupporting said shelf or rack, said shelf or rack having: a pair ofupper and lower engagement members located on each of two opposing sidesof said shelf or rack, where each engagement member is capable, in use,of engaging with said support means to support said shelf or rack, suchthat when said upper engagement members are engaged with a pair ofsupport means said shelf or rack is supported at a lower height in saidenclosure than when said lower engagement members are engaged with thesame pair of support means.
 22. An oven having a rack or shelf accordingto claim 21 wherein said engagement members are two parallel elongatemembers attached to opposing sides of said shelf or rack.
 23. An ovenhaving a rack or shelf according to either of claims 21 or 22 whereinsaid shelf or rack is formed from wire and said engagement members areintegrally formed therewith.
 24. An oven having a rack or shelfaccording to either of claims 21 or 22 wherein said shelf or rack andsaid engagement members are formed of a sheet type material.
 25. An ovenhaving a rack or shelf according to any one of claims 21 to 24 whereinthere is a plurality of support means and the spacing between each ofsaid pair of support means is equal to or greater than the distancebetween said upper and lower engagement members.
 26. An oven having arack or shelf according to any one of claims 21 to 25 wherein the numberof positions that said shelf or rack are placeable wit said enclosure isup to but not exceeding twice the number of support means providedwithin said oven.
 27. An oven having a rack or shelf according to anyone of claims 21 to 26 wherein said support means are solid elongatesupports.
 28. An oven having a rack or shelf according to any one ofclaims 21 to 27 wherein said support means are runners.
 29. An ovenhaving a rack or shelf according to any one of claims 21 to 28 whereinsaid engagement members are provided with restricting means to restricttilting and removal of said shelf or rack when in use.
 30. An ovenhaving a rack or shelf according to claim 29 wherein said restrictingmeans is an upward tilt provided at the ends, nearest the back of saidenclosure, of said upper and lower engagement members.